Division 4, Sectional 1: First Look

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We continue a late summer trek through the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association sectionals, today looking at Division 4, Sectional 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Teams:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aquinas<br>Cameron<br>Clear Lake<br>Cumberland<br>Durand-Arkansaw<br>Grantsburg<br>Ladysmith<br>Luther<br>McDonell Catholic<br>Regis<br>Unity<br><br><strong>Overview:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lots of teams with lots of promise in Sectional 1. And some outstanding individual players as well, led by Wyoming recruit [player_tooltip player_id='1853648' first='Gavin' last='Gores'], a 6-foot-10 senior forward from Cumberland. If Cumberland can figure out a way to maximize the considerable talented of Gores and gets the players surrounding Gores to gain the confidence required to succeed at the varsity level, the Beavers could emerge as a power in the Heart O'North Conference and as a serious threat to win the school's first sectional title since 1971. Cameron, led by senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2515007' first='Carter' last='Cherney'], and Ladysmith, paced by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2389718' first='Timmy' last='Meltz'], figure to challenge Cumberland and Division 3 Northwestern for the Heart O'North crown. Aquinas plays a rigorous schedule as a member of the Mississippi Valley Conference and boasts one of the top athletes in the sectional in junior [player_tooltip player_id='1890447' first='Logan' last='Becker']. Aquinas coach Brad Reinhart must replace four starters from a club that went 23-6 and won the sectional a year ago, but the Blugolds have some pieces in addition to Becker with the return of seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2632136' first='Trey' last='Bahr'], Vincent Bahr and [player_tooltip player_id='2735307' first='Brayden' last='Young']. Underclassmen [player_tooltip player_id='2224510' first='Finley' last='Strom'], [player_tooltip player_id='2140896' first='Calvin' last='Bahr'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2399128' first='Talan' last='Reinhart'] could also contribute. Unity is a powerhouse in the Lakeland West Conference, winning the past two league crowns with perfect 18-0 records. Even with five players who earned some sort of all-league mention graduating last spring, coaches in the Lakeland West feel Unity remains one of the league's top teams. Grantsburg welcomes back four starters and features some excellent size with senior [player_tooltip player_id='2432845' first='[player_tooltip player_id='2406142' first='Jayden' last='']' last='Brown'] at 6-foot-5, [player_tooltip player_id='2641954' first='Caden' last='Matheny'] at 6-6, Brock Matheny at 6-3 and [player_tooltip player_id='2524556' first='Caleb' last='Rombach'] at 6-2 all expected to play big roles. Clear Lake is yet another solid team in the Lakeland West as coach Jason Sargent has all five starters and three key backups returning, led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2628737' first='Jordan' last='Blanchard'] and sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2429609' first='Caleb' last='Arcand']. Regis and McDonell Catholic are Cloverbelt West teams that could make some noise in the sectional. Both teams boast lots of returning experience along with some talented younger players. Luther competes in the Coulee Conference and also boasts some returning talent with seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2432857' first='Synclair' last='Byus'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2623674' first='Will' last='Huelskamp'] back after both averaging in double figures as juniors. Durand-Arkansaw is expected to be among the favorites in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference. <br><br><strong>Pre-Season All-Sectional Team:</strong><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1853648"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cf5f0c17597"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">No player in Sectional 1 can dominate a game like Gores, a versatile big man who can score inside and outside, block shots and rebound with the best of them. He averaged 28.6 points and 13.1 rebounds as a junior while also blocking 33 shots. Gores has a strong spring/summer with the [program_tooltip program_id='2076033' first='Wisconsin' last='Playmakers'] program and even earned an offer from Illinois to go along with his boatload of offers from mid-major programs. In the end, though, Gores opted to commit to Wyoming as he had built up a strong relationship with new Cowboys' coach Sundance Wicks when Wicks coached at Green Bay in 2023-24. Gores has improved his strength and his aggressiveness, and his skill level has always been a strength. Look for him to have a monster senior season for coach Brian Dutton and the Beavers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1890447"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cf5f0c1761d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Becker flashed his potential at the WIAA State Tournament when he took over the semifinal contest against eventual champion Mineral Point. Despite a last-second loss, Becker gave the Blugolds the lead late in the game with his ability to slash to the basket and score through contact while also knocking down perimeter shots. He finished the contest with 27 points and was able to draw seven fouls. He also had four rebounds and went nine-of-11 attempts from the foul line. Becker has good size, can play either guard position and is a very good leader for the Blugolds. Also an excellent football receiver, Becker is one of the top players in the largely Division 2 Mississippi Valley Conference. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2375323"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cf5f0c17678"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the biggest stock boosters in the state's 2026 class with his strong showings on the club circuit with the [program_tooltip program_id='2076033' first='Wisconsin' last='Playmakers'], Risler is an offensive minded player who gets points in a variety of ways. He's strong off the dribble, can make deep jump shots and scores well in transition. Risler was the lone underclassmen to earn first-team all-Cloverbelt West Conference honors after averaging 20.3 points and 2.1 rebounds as the Blugolds finished 10-16. Risler is a hard working player who is always in the gym working on his game. He is one of four returning starters for the Ramblers, who hope to challenge for the Cloverbelt West title. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2432845"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cf5f0c176d0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A backcourt prospect with size, Brown has the height, skill and instincts to play facing the basket. He can perform at either guard position and has deep shooting range. Brown attacks the basket well and has good court vision when his path to the hoop is interrupted. As a junior, Brown received first-team all-Lakeland West Conference laurels after averaging 18.4 points and 4.7 rebounds while helping a young Grantsburg squad to a 12-12 record. Four starters return for coach Michael Myers with Brown being the cornerstone piece to a potential league-title team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2492535"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cf5f0c17725"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Perhaps the top player in the Cloverbelt East Conference, Hoeser is poised for a breakout junior season for the Warriors. He received honorable mention all-league laurels as a sophomore as the lone underclassmen in the starting rotation for coach Mike Gaier. He averaged 12.6 points and 5.6 rebounds and those numbers figure to soar in 2024-25 as Hoeser becomes the go-to offensive performer for Neillsville. Hoeser can score from outside the arc, around the basket and from the foul line. He is a fluid athlete who competes with a high skill level and the size and length to make things tough on opponents on both ends of the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pre-Season Pick to Click:</strong><br><br>Any number of teams could come out of this sectional. It is very deep and very balanced. No one team stands out head-and-shoulders above the others. However, in terms of picking a team to click, I'll go with McDonell Catholic. Coach Adam Schilling is one of the better mentors in the state and has guided the Macks to the WIAA State Tournament three times in his six years at the school. McDonell Catholic might not have one individual standout, but collectively the Macks are a handful. All five players who started on last year's squad that went 16-10 return, including second-team all-Cloverbelt West pick [player_tooltip player_id='2390086' first='Cooper' last='Mittermeyer'] and honorable mention selections [player_tooltip player_id='2389764' first='Karson' last='Galvez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2394207' first='Cael' last='Holm']. Senior defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='2390515' first='Jordan' last='Sikora'] and junior big man [player_tooltip player_id='2541233' first='Mason' last='Busse'] also return to the starting rotation. Look for seniors Grant Smiskey and David Anderson along with junior Eli Stepp also to make positive contributions for the balanced and experienced Macks. Spooner transfer, sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2397759' first='Nathan' last='Hazel'], also could work his way into the playing rotation after playing varsity basketball for the Rails last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->